The Seattle Seahawks need to get back on track after dropping the ball on Monday Night Football. Fortunately, they'll stay home and host one of the worst teams in football when they face the Arizona Cardinals in Week 9.
Mike Macdonald's team already dominated Mike LaFleur and company earlier in the season. They didn't have Sam Darnold on the field in that road win, so watching the veteran quarterback sit out with an injury shouldn't move the needle that much this time around.
A lot has transpired since that win, but that has only put more pressure on the defending Super Bowl champions. Considering that, let's take a look at the four biggest questions they must answer to sweep the Cardinals.
4 questions the Seattle Seahawks must answer to beat the Cardinals
Can the running game get going?
Getting Jadarian Price and Zach Charbonnet on the gridiron and trading for Quenton Nelson didn't do much to solve the running game's problems in Week 8. But now that Nelson and the banged-up backs have had more time to get their legs under them and become more acclimated, things might be better.
The Cardinals are giving up 122.1 rushing yards per game, 19th in the league. Price is officially on the clock after a disappointing start to his rookie campaign, and Charbonnet needs to secure another deal, so motivation is high. They already ran for 162 yards on 4.1 YPC against them in Week 2.
Will someone else finally help JSN?
This has been a recurring issue, but the Seahawks can't make a play on offense unless the ball touches Jaxon Smith-Njigba's hands. He's delivered time and time again, but we've also seen that's simply not sustainable.
The Seahawks might need to look elsewhere for help in the pass-catching department. He already torched the Cardinals for 150+ yards and three touchdowns in Week 2, so they will likely game plan exclusively to contain him.
Can Drew Lock keep the foot on the gas?
Drew Lock has been the Seahawks' best quarterback this season, and it hasn't been particularly close. Granted, Sam Darnold has set a pretty low bar, but Lock actually played pretty well when given a chance earlier in the season.
The former Denver Broncos draft pick completed 19 of 26 passes for 235 yards, three touchdowns, and zero picks in Week 2, and he only took one sack. He's limited with an elbow injury, and it's a small sample size, but he's balled out.
Will they be ready for Gardner Minshew II?
Gardner Minshew II is the ultimate wild card. He's usually great until he isn't, and you never know what version of him you'll get. With Jacoby Brissett out of the picture, the Seahawks will have to game plan for the volatile gunslinger.
The Seahawks' stellar defense should fear no man, and definitely not a journeyman like Minshew. That said, he's the type of guy who can play spoiler on any given day, and Aden Durde may have to get in his bag to contain him.
Add us as a preferred source on Google